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Fundamentals
Intermediate
Advanced
Intermediate
Thirds in C
Play the C Major scale harmonized in 3rds & 6ths, moving these intervals up and down the fretboard.
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Intermediate
Connecting Arpeggios in C pt. 1
Learn 7th chord arpeggios in one position at a moderate tempo
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Intermediate
Connecting Arpeggios in C pt. 2
Level up your 7th chord arpeggios and go faster—16th note feel at 95bpm
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Intermediate
Hypnotic Grooves: Chromatic Lines
Get started with chromaticism—here are some ideas to play over a dominant chord. Works well over C7 or Gm7 chords.
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Intermediate
Hypnotic Grooves: Arpeggio Run
Play this bebop-like arpeggio run outlining a Gm11 chord
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Advanced
Ella Fitzgerald - "Take the A Train" Solo
The classic Ella Fitzgerald solo from Ella Fitzgerald Sings The Duke Ellington Songbook (1957)
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Intermediate
7th Chord Voicings
Learn 8 new 7th shapes, playing G7 & B7
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Intermediate
Hypnotic Grooves: Backing Track
Here's a hypnotic backing track for you to practice your improvising. 90 BPM, Key of C.
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Fundamentals
Major Scale
The foundational scale of Western music
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Fundamentals
Intro to Rhythmic Patterns
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Fundamentals
Triads in C pt. 1
This progression in the key of C uses triads on strings 1-3
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Fundamentals
Triads in Am pt. 1
This progression in the key of Am uses triads on strings 1-3
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Fundamentals
Am Pentatonic: 1 String
Play the minor pentatonic on a single string
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Fundamentals
Am Pentatonic: Single Octave Shapes
Play the minor pentatonic in a single octave in different positions across the fretboard
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Fundamentals
Am Pentatonic: Pos. 1-3
Play the minor pentatonic in Positions 1-3, starting with the most common scale shape
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Fundamentals
Am Pentatonic: Pos. 4 & 5
Play the minor pentatonic in Positions 4 & 5
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Fundamentals
Thumbing Single Notes
Learn to play a steady rhythm on one open string.
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Fundamentals
Picking Single Notes
Learn to pick a steady rhythm on one open string.
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Fundamentals
Alternate Picking
A series of right-hand figures to build up basic alternate picking.
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Fundamentals
Thumb & Fingers
A series of right-hand figures to get your thumb and middle finger working together.
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Fundamentals
Strumming
A series of right-hand figures to teach basic strum patterns.
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Fundamentals
Riffing
Learn how a few basic riff patterns and palm muting with your right hand.
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Fundamentals
Playing on One String
Explore beginner scale patterns up and down on a single string.
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Fundamentals
Pentatonic Beginnings
Explore beginner melodies with the pentatonic scale in one position.
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Fundamentals
Major Scale Beginnings
Explore beginner melodies with the major scale scale in one position.
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Fundamentals
Building Strength & Dexterity
Work single note patterns in position to build left-hand strength & dexterity.
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Fundamentals
Introducing Slides
Learn basic technique and phrases for left-hand slides.
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Fundamentals
Introducing Hammer-Ons & Pull-Offs
Learn basic technique and phrases for hammer-ons and pull-offs.
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Fundamentals
G Major (I Chord)
Learn the open G chord.
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Fundamentals
Cadd9 (IV Chord)
Learn the Cadd9 chord and switch from G to Cadd9.
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Fundamentals
D Major (V Chord)
Learn the D chord and switch from G to D.
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Fundamentals
Em (vi Chord)
Learn the Em chord and switch from G to Em.
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Fundamentals
Am (ii Chord)
Learn the Em chord and switch from G to Em.
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Fundamentals
G Major & E Minor Scales
Play each scale in two octaves & two positions
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Fundamentals
C Major & A Minor Scales
Play each scale in two octaves & two positions
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Fundamentals
D Major & B Minor Scales
Play each scale in two octaves & two positions
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Fundamentals
E Major & C# Minor Scales
Play each scale in two octaves & two positions
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Fundamentals
A Major & F# Minor Scales
Play each scale in two octaves & two positions
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Fundamentals
Open Chords in A
Learn the fingerings for A, D, and E—the major chords in the key of A.
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Fundamentals
Dil Kya Kare Groove
Three-part guitar arrangement of the groove from Dil Kya Kare.
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Fundamentals
You Really Got Me - Beginner Groove
A three-part guitar arrangement for grooving to "You Really Got Me"
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Fundamentals
12 Bar Blues in E
The basic 12 bar blues played with powerchords and a swung 8th note feel.
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Fundamentals
First Fingerpicking
Get started with basic fingerpicking using simplified G and D chord shapes.
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Fundamentals
Right Hand Study #1
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Fundamentals
Triads in Am pt. 2
This progression in the key of Am uses triads on strings 2-4
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Fundamentals
Triads G to F pt. 1
Here's a common two-chord progression using triads on two string sets
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Fundamentals
Triads Progression 102
Combine basic triads to play this chord progression in the key of C
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Fundamentals
Triads G to F pt. 2
Here's a common two-chord progression using triads on the lower string sets
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Fundamentals
Open Chord Progressions in G
Play 4 common chord progressions using open chords in G.
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Fundamentals
Am Pentatonic: String Transportation
Move up and down the fretboard with the pentatonic scale
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Fundamentals
Born Under a Bad Sign (Riff)
A classic blues riff from the great Albert King (Stax Records, 1967).
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Fundamentals
Who Knows (Riff)
A classic riff by Jimi Hendrix —from Band of Gypsies, Live at the Fillmore East (1970)
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Fundamentals
Heart of Gold
Learn the intro & verse strumming pattern for this classic Neal Young tune.
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Fundamentals
Best Part
Try this beginner R&B progression by Daniel Cesar & H.E.R.
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Intermediate
Thank You (Riff)
Learn the riff and chord stab from this iconic funk tune by Sly & the Family Stone.
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Fundamentals
Intro to 1-6-2-5
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Intermediate
Thirds in G
Play the G Major scale harmonized in 3rds & 6ths, moving these intervals up and down the fretboard.
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Intermediate
6/8 Polyrhythm Study
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Intermediate
Connecting Arpeggios in C pt. 3
Learn another position for 7th chord arpeggios in C
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Fundamentals
12 Bar Blues - Shell Voicings in E
The basic 12 bar blues played with shell voicings. Includes a turnaround in bars 11-12.
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Fundamentals
Blues Bending 1 - Key of E
Here are a few licks to help you practice bending the third in a blues. These licks work over an E blues and will sound good over an E7 chord.
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Intermediate
V7 to I Cadence
An exercise exploring the V7 to I cadence, highlighting the voice leading in the top voice of each chord.
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Fundamentals
Major Scale Patterns
Check out these patterns for warming up with the major scale.
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Intermediate
7th Chord Scale (C)
Play all the 7th chords in the key of C—using ascending 6th-string root voicings
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Intermediate
7th Chord Scale (G)
Play all the 7th chords in the key of G—using ascending 6th-string root voicings
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Intermediate
Ascending Arpeggios (C)
Play ascending 7th chord arpeggios in the key of C
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Intermediate
Ascending Arpeggios (G)
Play ascending 7th chord arpeggios in the key of G
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Intermediate
Mixolydian
Major scale variant with a b7
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Intermediate
Lydian
Major scale variant with a #4
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Intermediate
2-5-1-6 Voicings in D
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Intermediate
Jazz Blues Chord Voicings in G
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Intermediate
Californication Guitar Solo
John Frusciante's solo on "Californication"
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Intermediate
Arpeggios in C: 1,2,3,4
The first four arpeggios in the key of C
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Intermediate
Arpeggios in C: 5,6,7, 1
Ascending arpeggios from 5 to 1 in the key of C
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Intermediate
Secondary Dominant Line
An arpeggio line using a secondary dominant movement to set up the 2 chord. Key of C.
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Intermediate
Connecting Arpeggios in C pt. 4
Level up your 7th chord arpeggios and go faster—16th note feel at 95bpm
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Intermediate
Dm7 to Fmaj7
Play Fmaj7 as a chord synonym for Dm7
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Intermediate
Dm7 to Am7
Play Am7 as a chord synonym for Dm7
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Intermediate
Dm9(add11)
Play Dm9add11 - an extended Dm7 chord with Fmaj7 & Am7 in the upper structure
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Intermediate
Dm6 Arpeggios
Play Dm6 to create a Dorian minor sound
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Intermediate
Dm6 to G9
Play this chord synonym - G9 for Dm6
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Intermediate
Hypnotic Grooves: Descending Line
Play this descending line over a C7 or Gm7 chord
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Intermediate
Hypnotic Grooves: Lydian Dominant Line
Play line this to create a Lydian Dominant color—using b7 and #4
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Intermediate
Hypnotic Grooves: Lydian Chord
This chord groove shifts the bass note to produce a Lydian chord—with the #4 in the bass
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Intermediate
Wind Cries Mary
The essential parts of this classic Hendrix tune
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Intermediate
Don't Think Twice
A simplified version of "Don't Think Twice"—great for working on your fingerpicking.
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Intermediate
For the Love of God Intro Lick - Steve Vai
The opening lick from a live performance
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Intermediate
China Cat Sunflower (Grateful Dead)
The main melody from this classic Grateful Dead tune. This is from a live recording released on the Europe '72 album.
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Intermediate
Tumbao Guitar Groove in A
This is a guitar groove with two voices (bassline and chord hits) played over a typical Afro-Cuban tumbao rhythm on congas.
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Intermediate
Slow Dancing in a Burning Room (Melody)
Explore the main melody from this iconic John Mayer balled. Includes a simplified version, embellished version, and high harmony. Check out the harmonized scale exercise at the end!
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Intermediate
Althea Intro (Grateful Dead)
The intro melody from the classic studio recording.
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Intermediate
4-3-6-1 "Just the Two of Us" Voicings
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Intermediate
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan Lick - "Sahib Teri Bandi"
This lick comes from a chant at the midpoint of "Sahib Teri Bandi" from the album The Last Prophet (1994)
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Intermediate
Dmi(maj7)
Play Dmi(maj7) to create a tonic minor sound. Also implies V7 to i (A7 to Dm)
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Intermediate
maj7 Arpeggio Shapes
A series of shapes for Cmaj7, which can be applied to any maj7 chord by shifting the root note.
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Advanced
Mixolydian b6
Major scale variant with a b6 and b7
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Advanced
Lydian Dominant
Major scale variant with a #4 and b7
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Advanced
Phrygian Dominant (Hijaz)
Major scale variant with a b2, b6, b7
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Advanced
Double Harmonic (Mayamalavagowla)
Major scale variant with b2 and b6
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Advanced
Arpeggio Study: Dominant Extensions
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